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Explanation and History of the Grand Honours


Webmaster's Disclaimer — What follows is an explanation of the Grand Honours presented by R.W. Bro. Rob Manz on November 15, 2010, at Connaught Lodge A.F. & A.M. No. 511, Thunder Bay, Ontario.   The author introduces his explanation with, "A new member of our order might be quite confused when he first assists giving Grand Honours."   Indeed, this has happed in our lodge recently, when this practice was called variously, "The Macarena" or "The Chicken Dance."

      The author of this explanation holds that "Mackey's Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry claims this practice dates back to Greek and Roman times and has come to us through the operative craft."   However, an attentive reading of this subject in that Encyclopedia (select the letter "H" and scroll down to "HONORS, GRAND") does not support this claim, at least not in the manner it is formulated in his explanation.   In fact, in that Encyclopedia Mackey writes, and I quote:

"The ancient Romans had carried their science on this subject to such an extent as to have divided these honors into three kinds, differing from each other in the mode in which the hands were struck against each other, and in the sound that thence resulted. Seutonius, in his life of Nero (chapter xx), gives the names of these various kinds of applause, which he says were called bombi, imbrices, testoe, and Seneca, in his Quaestionum Naturalium, gives a description of the manner in which they were executed. The bombi, or hums, were produced by striking the palms of the hands together, while they were in a hollow or concave position, and doing this at frequent intervals, but with little force, so as to imitate the humming sound of a swarm of bees. The imbrices, or tiles, were made by briskly striking the flattened and extended palms of the hands against each other, so as to resemble the sound of hail pattering upon the tiles of a roof. The testae, or earthen vases, were executed by striking the palm of the left hand, with the fingers of the right collected into one point. By this blow, a sound was elicited which imitated that given out by an earthen vase when struck by a stick.

Several other Masonic websites have published the same story, essentially word-for-word, giving rise to the question of whether the ones have thoughtlessly copied the others at face value, as occasionally happens under the influence of parochial enthusiasm or passion.   Furthermore, the manner in which Grand Honours are given today is not the same in all jurisdictions and countries, in some, it is not even practiced, or the equivalent practiced in a completely different, dignified manner, and in good taste and cleverly — like the Romans did — as reported by the Mackey's Encyclopaedia in the passages quoted above. *

May 12, 2014.


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ALGOMA DISTRICT TRAVELLING SQUARE


Grand Honours - November 15, 2010


CONNAUGHT LODGE A.F. & A.M. No. 511

BY SUPERIOR LODGE A.F. & A.M. No. 672, THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO


A new member of our order might be quite confused when he first assists giving Grand Honours. He might wonder at the significance of the several movements and be inquisitive as to their origin. He will soon discover that Grand Honours are given to four ranks; Worshipful Brother, that is Worshipful Master rank or the recipient of the William Mercer Wilson Medal, three times; Very Worshipful rank, five times; Right Worshipful rank, seven times; and Grand Master rank, nine times. These honours are given at installation and at the time of visitation in an official capacity of officers of the ranks.

Mackey's Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry claims this practice dates back to Greek and Roman times and has come to us through the operative craft. Of course, ancient cultures were more ritualistic than we are and carried the practice to a much wider usage.

The Grand Lodge Bulletin of Alberta in its May 1973 issue explains the practice in this way:

"The practice has been adopted by the Masonic Order and various Grand Officers are accorded courtesies as are laid down in the constitution.

Freemasonry has put into these courtesies certain symbolism:

1. slapping the thighs - a primitive gesture of Joy, enthusiasm and Thanksgiving.

2. Crossing the arms over the breast is the formation of the Cross of St. Andrew and is a sign of respect and honour.

3. Clapping the hands above the head to form a right angle triangle, the fourth part of a circle, which does not need to be explained to a Mason.

4. Clapping the hands. A sign of enthusiasm and appreciation.

Thus brethren, with Grand Honours we say to a visitor:

We welcome you with joy.

We receive you with respect and honour.

We greet you on the square.

We appreciate your presence."

Submitted by W. Bro. D. I. Garrett, Niagara Lodge No.2, G.R.C., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, to the 19BB Spring Edition of the Masonic Newsletter.


Presented by R.W. Bro. Rob Manz


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